Who needs press releases when you have Instagram? Following in the footsteps of Gisele and Isabel Marant for H&M, Nicki Minaj released a first look at her new Kmart collection on the social media platform yesterday. And it actually looks pretty good.

Name: Rachel Trachtenburg
What do you do? I'm a model and member of the band Supercute!
What was the last song you listened to? "Lolita Ya Ya" by Sue Lyon.
What are you currently obsessed with? UFOs and Forget-Me-Nots.
What do you never leave home without? A book.

Here's something that perhaps no one saw coming: hip downtown clothing line Sophomore is partnering with KMart Fashion. Yea. That just happened.
They've teamed up for a limited edition tee shirt, and it's actually kind of cute. It features the slogan "#FashionWeekProblems," which is the hash tag KMart Concierge at @KmartFashion will be using this Fashion Week to help out those in need during the shows.

While looking ridiculously hot in her $29 Sofia by Sofia Vergara skinny jeans, the actress/Cover Girl model/designer introduced her new Kmart collaboration in the penthouse of the swanky Cooper Square Hotel on Thursday. While we should have realized that the Emmy nominated Modern Family star would be modeling her own designs, the whole room full of fashion writers still seemed pretty blown away when she pointed out that she was wearing — no, totally rocking — inexpensive denim of her own design. And, damn, if a pair of those can make someone look like that, then put us on the waiting list.
Collaborations are the new black these days — from Jennifer Lopez and Kohls to Alexa Chung for Madewell — so how did Vergara decide on her retail partner?

In Defense of Helena Bonham Carter: Carter says her mismatched Golden Globe shoes were all about having fun with fashion. Personally, we love her for breaking the mold. {The Cut}
Mary Katrantzou for Topshop, Again: The eccentric designer's second capsule collection for Topshop hits stores in February. {Grazia}
Rachel Zoe Is Dying for White:The stylist insists that white is the new black. {Stylelist}
Modern Family Star Spices up Kmart: Sofia Vergara has designed a line for Kmart that will include all the usual suspects of a celebrity collection: jeggings, miniskirts, and tight party dresses. The line hits stores this fall. {WWD, subscription required}
H&M E-Commerce is Coming!: The fast fashion retailer is FINALLY making online shopping available to US residents at the end of next year. H&M, you just made our day! {@hmusa}

So I don't expect Kmart to become the world's next Topshop. But I must say that I believe it's important to have good design at every price point. It doesn't have to be trendy, but it should be good. And that's what Kmart is offering up for Spring 2011.
There are some great-looking black sandals, wrapped with delicate gold chains, a pair of suede booties, a truly-covetable leopard scarf, and some blue cargoes that make me happier than J.Brand's. And of course, nothing really veers over $40. So if you're on a budget, don't forget about Kmart. (What's more, their classic peds and unwashed men's denim are totally worth a stop, regardless of how good the new collection is.)
Click through for some images from Kmart Spring 2011.